Application Process

International students often underestimate the amount of time required to apply for admission to a college or
university in the United States. You can avoid this mistake by setting a schedule for yourself that begins well in
advance of the time that you plan to begin your studies.

When setting your timetable, always remember that starting the process early is the best way forward. You will need
to allow yourself sufficient time to thoroughly research the institution and/or program that will best serve your
academic and professional goals. Then you must meet the application deadlines of the universities to which you
apply, which may be up to ten months before the beginning of the school term.

Especially for schools with competitive admissions, the application process takes a significant amount of time and
effort. You will need to write personal statements and request recommendations from teachers or others who know you
well. Even if you are applying on line via the Common Application, you will want to get started early. University
websites and other academic Internet sites may provide quick and convenient access to the required application
forms, but you still need time to research your options, contact teachers and institutions to provide
recommendations and transcripts, and sign up for required entrance exams in time to meet application deadlines.

This application timeline will provide you with detailed information about the steps you should take and when you
should take them in order to plan your approach to studying in the USA. The plan starts 18 months before you wish to
study, so you need to get planning soon! Of course, if you don’t have that much time you can still jump in and catch
up – but there earlier the better!
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Most U.S. colleges and universities require that you take one or more standardized admissions tests in order to gain
entrance into their programs. SAT, ACT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, TOEFL, IELTS – it’s like alphabet soup! We can provide you
with further information about the various tests, what you need to do in order to prepare for, sign up for and do
well on the appropriate standardized tests.
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For students preparing to apply to colleges, we offer
test preparation advice to help you prepare for any standardized tests you need to take.

School curriculum varies by country, not only in language but also in practice. Many schools accepting students from
other countries require the official status of your school and need to verify the authenticity of documents. This is
where credential evaluators come in. Your school may require you to submit transcripts to a credential evaluator who
will examine your credentials and translate the documents into your host country curriculum for review.
Learn More

As an international student, one thing you need to consider that US students don’t is the matter of student visas.
You may want to visit our
Student Visa page to familiarize yourself with the type of visa for which you will need to apply.

USA School Search

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students around the world. We strive to provide students world-class resources to help them
investigate and pursue an international education, through relevant content, custom online
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